Do you find yourself sitting down with friends and nitpicking their
brains, analyzing their behaviors, and helping them sort through their
not-so-conscious problems? Perhaps the brains of children, the elderly,
couples, or entire corporations rev your intellectual engines. Either
way, becoming a psychologist may be your calling.
Part 1 of 5: Preparing for College
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Get good grades in high school.
This has less to do with becoming a psychologist and more to do with
how to become successful in life. If you want a good job (and to be good
at your job), you need to work hard and go to a good university. In
order to go to a good university, you need to get good grades in high
school. See the logic?
- If your school offers psychology courses, take them! That includes
AP Psych, too. The earlier you feel out this topic, the better.
Sociology and other like courses certainly won't hurt, either.
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Start working or volunteering.
If you're in high school now, odds are your interests will shift as you
age. However, if you feel like you have a good grasp on where you want
to go in life, the best time to start is now. Wherever you see yourself
working and whoever you see yourself working with, try to gain
experience working with them.
- This could be in the form of volunteering at your local hospital,
women's shelter, or with a business that has a large team. Not only will
this make applying to colleges easier, but the more people you know
now, the more people you can ask for favours later!
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Talk to your guidance counsellor.
He can tell you about the different routes to the degree you want and
the different possible work environments ahead of you. The counsellor
can tell you what route leads to the job outcome you have in mind.
- What's more, they'll be able to get you information on prospective
study programs. They'll know which schools have the best programs for
the type of psychology you're interested in. And they'll get you started
on scholarships and financial aid when the time comes.
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Learn as much as you can about the entire field of psychology.
There are many sub-specialties to consider. When people say "I want to
be psychologist," general they're thinking of clinical psychology --
where you sit down with one or two people and hack away at the
subconscious. However, there are a bunch of different branches and all
are worth exploring early on:
- Organizational and industrial psychology: the study of human psychology in industrial work environments and large organizations.
- Clinical psychology: the study of human psychology in clinical
settings like hospitals and mental heath facilities, including
psychotherapy.
- Cognitive psychology: the study of internal thought processes such as problem-solving, memory, perception, and speech.
- Neuropsychology: the study of the brain and larger nervous system and how they contribute to human psychology and behaviour.
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Research different degree programs.
The easiest path is to find a college that has a decent program for
obtaining a bachelor's in psychology. Check to see that they offer the
branch you're interested in (if you've narrowed it down) and what kind
of work they require toward the end -- some may offer programs that are
more akin to grad programs (theses and what not) while others may be a
little less intensive.
- It is technically possible to jump into a Master's program,
if your school offers it, too. However, this requires being super
certain of what you're getting into. Getting a BA in psychology allows
you to tackle education 4 years at a time -- a Master's is all that work
and more, with a couple more years tacked on.
Part 2 of 5: Getting Your Bachelor's Degree
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Attend a four-year university.
Working as a psychologist requires an advanced degree, but first you
need a bachelor's degree. You don't have to major in psychology, but it
should be a degree that is at least associated with the field of
psychology. Here are a few relevant alternatives:
-
Human development. This studies the path from infancy to adulthood.
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Sociology. This field studies how the human subject behaves in social groups.
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Anatomy/physiology. This is a good bachelor's degree to get if you are interested primarily in cognitive psychology and how the brain functions.
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Chemistry. This kind of study is more appropriate for cognitive
psychology than clinical psychology, as it focuses on the science behind
human behaviour and not the behaviour itself.
-
Get involved in research.
Many college psychology departments engage in their own psychological
research. Students participate as research subjects and as assistant
researchers. Research experience is vital for being accepted into a
graduate program.
- This step is more for your junior or senior year in college. In your
courses, it won't be uncommon for your TA or professor to announce that
so-and-so is looking for a research assistant. If you have a 3.5 or
higher and blah blah blah, you can apply with Professor Zimbardo during
her office hours at...you get it. When the time rolls around, jump on it. You'll need it later.
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Find a focus, minor, or double major.
If you started out your freshman year with your psych major, you may
find that you have extra time to dedicate to your focus or even a second
major. What's more, it makes good sense, too.
- With a focus or minor you can start thinking about the rest of your
career. A minor in gender studies could lead to a research project on
women, solidifying your experiences and making the application process
for grad school that much easier.
- A double major is a great idea -- especially if it's a bit
more...practical than psychology. The cruelties of the liberal arts
world are many and you may find that having a second major in business
or marketing will better serve your wallet in the future!
-
Work on a research project.
Many undergrad degrees will let you get away with a BA in psychology
without affiliating yourself with any research. If you can avoid this,
do so. You by no means have to spit out tomes of experimental glory, but
do try to rub noses with a professor or two that lets you churn the
data or punch some numbers.
- That's what summers are for, folks. When that three months of
nothing to do rolls around, stay on campus. Talk to a couple of your TAs
or professors, show them how eager you are, and see what they can come
up with. Odds are they'll love seeing a new kid as thrilled about
psychology as you.
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Know that this isn't the end.
Here's something that school you're paying $30,000 a year to go to
won't tell you: a BA in psychology is code for skimming the foam off
picky latte drinkers' orders. While Starbucks does have a pretty good
employee package, it's probably not exactly what you had in mind. To
grad school you go!
- Let's get even more real: to be a straight up, legit psychologist
like the one you probably have in your head, that means a PhD. While a
master's is all well and good and will open a few doors, a PhD will open
the doors down the entire hallway. A master's may entitle you to use
the adjective ("psychological assistant"), while a PhD lets you use the
noun ("group psychologist").
-
Consider medical school.
A lot of people aren't crystal clear on the differences between a
psychiatrist and a psychologist. A psychologist does not attend medical
school and therefore cannot disburse medication. If you want to
be a psychiatrist (someone who can prescribe), you'll need to train to be a physician.
- If this is the path you want to take, instead of the GRE, you'll
need to take the MCAT. Going to med school is a completely different
path than going to grad school. Which speaks to you?
Part 3 of 5: Applying to Graduate School
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Take the GRE. To go to
grad school, you'll need to take the GRE. It's best to take it in the
fall before the application deadlines in the winter/spring. And the
better you do, the more (and better) schools you'll be accepted into.
Start studying months before you take the test!
- Your GRE scores may help you determine between an MA and a PhD. If
you don't get stellar GRE scores, try again. Most PhD programs are
looking for a good score (master's programs may be less intense).
- Your GRE scores are good for up to 5 years. If you're not sure what
life will throw at you next year, you can still take it and apply to
schools in the coming years.
-
Determine what kind of work you want to do.
In general, you'll find four types of programs at the grad level: I/O,
Clinical, Counselling, and Experimental. Knowing which type you want to
focus on and pursue will determine what college you go to and the path
you take.
- I/O stands for Industrial/Organizational. This involves working with
corporations or organizations; in the end, you'll work for a business
and focus on morale and HR-like activities.
- Clinical is what most people picture when they hear "psychologist." Your therapist/shrink studied clinical psychology.
- Counselling is similar to clinical, but you'll probably end up
working in a school or government setting (like prison!). This is not
the way to go if you want to end up with a private practice.
- Experimental psychology is more research based and focuses on -- you
guessed it -- experiments. Though it can involve different branches, it
concentrates on applying theories and methods, working out kinks and
discovering new ideas.
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Determine your focus.
Psychology is a huge field -- even after you've chosen a branch
(Clinical, for example), you need to zero in on a focus within that
branch. Focusing on one sub-category will determine where and how you
will work as a psychologist after graduation.
- There are so many options (educational psychology, rehabilitation
psychology, environmental psychology, psychology and the law, trauma
psychology, forensic psychology, cross-cultural psychology, etc.) that
if we listed them all, you'd be here all day. Hopefully your undergrad
program exposed you to a bunch of them -- which one fascinated you most?
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Decide if you want a Master's, a PhD, or a PsyD.
A Master's takes much less time and money, but it may result in a
smaller pay-check and fewer job possibilities. You may also find that
it's difficult to jump schools from a Master's to a PhD if you decide to
pursue further education in the future. Sit down for yourself for a
minute and consider the following:
- Master's programs take two-three years to complete, with the last
year being an internship where you accumulate hours in the field. A
Master's program generally will prepare you to work as a marriage and
family counsellor, as an industrial psychologist or as a school
psychologist.[1]
- Doctoral programs take six to seven years (depending on how you do
it, it could also take much longer), including a year-long intern-ship. A
doctoral program prepares you for working as a psychologist in a
hospital, clinic, or some other kind of institutional setting.
- Realize that there are several different doctoral degrees, including
the PsyD program (less common, less research-based; 5 years to
complete)[2].
Also realize that many doctoral programs provide financial support to
students, who, typically, do work for the university as teaching
assistants and research assistants. Master's programs typically do not
provide this kind of financial support.
- Let your interests determine this. If you want to have a private
practice, go the PhD route. If you want to be a school psychologist, get
your Master's.
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Find the right school.
It's pretty clear that there are a variety of options when it comes to
your future as a psychologist. Because of this, every school varies and
has its strengths and weaknesses. If you want to work as an Industrial
psychologist with an emphasis on cross-cultural work environments and
diversity, make sure your school has a good program on that specific
aspect of psychology!
- Most schools will have a focus themselves -- one will be a good
clinical school while another will be a good experimental school. Make
sure this matches with your aspirations!
- It's also very important that your school matches your philosophical
orientation. If you are a fierce proponent of Psychoanalysis, you may
not be happy attending a school that's highly Humanistic. What school of
thought do you fall into?
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Research scholarships, assistantships, and grants.
Going to grad school for years on end will rack up a hefty fee when all
is said and done. Before you find yourself staring at piles and piles
of loans, look for grants and scholarships. The less you have to pay to
make money, the better!
- Hopefully your school will offer you some type of reduced tuition
assistance either in the form of being a TA or working at an associated
hospital or other organization. This will lessen your budgeting woes,
but also makes it hard to keep down another job while studying. It's
best to have all your financial ducks in a row before you get in too
deep.
Part 4 of 5: Succeeding in Grad School
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Become involved in Psi Chi or your school's psychology club.
While you're wiling away the hours studying, it'll be helpful to have
sympathy nearby. The Psi Chi club will offer you a plethora of resources
in addition to moral support. This may help you land a job after you
have graduated, too.
- Basically, the more people you know, the better you'll be off. Odds
are the Psi Chi club is in good with a handful of professors and right
now that's your bread and butter.
-
Get an intern-ship. Your
school will probably help you out with this as it may be required for
graduation (at least for the PhD candidates). Full-time, supervised
training will be the best experience you get before you go on the job
yourself!
- Generally this will be the last year of your academic work. It's
really a job -- you'll be doing it full-time and getting paid (or at
least getting tuition free!). You're almost there!
- For PsyD candidates, this is pretty much the end of the line![3]
-
Complete your dissertation.
If your program requires it, completing your dissertation is the last
step to becoming a full-fledged psychiatrist (well, apart from
licensure). This can be done before, during, or after your internship,
depending on your program.
- If you complete all the coursework but have yet to do your
dissertation, you are what they call ABD -- "all but dissertation."
Clearly if there's an acronym for it, it's a common thing.
-
Consider more education.
Believe it or not, there is still more to learn even after graduating
with your PhD. A one-year post-doctoral appointment at a university can
help you land a prestigious job. However, plenty of grads do not go this
route. It's there if you want to become world reknown, though!
- Some grads won't need a post-doc. However, if you do one, it can count as credit for your licensure.[4] Just know your state requirements so you can structure it around them!
Part 5 of 5: Finding a Job
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Start out supervised. In
many states, you need a year or two of supervised practice to get your
license (if you need it at all). You'll be doing work at a hospital or
university under the guidance of a seasoned pro. Many states require
hundreds or even thousands of hours of work to become licensed.
- Luckily, the past few years have set you up for this moment. You
should be familiar with an organization or two that has a role you can
fill -- or utilize one of the many professors you've worked with to get
your foot in the door somewhere!
-
Get licensed. And you
thought the paperwork was over after grad school! Nope! You'll need to
take the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology),
create a dossier of all your work, and nail down all your supervised
work hours. The requirements vary by state, so do the research on yours.
It can vary widely, too -- California only requires 3,000 hours while
Michigan requires 6,000.[4]
- You're probably looking at $1,000 or so in fees when it comes to
getting licensed. You'll be buying study books, applying, and covering
exam fees.
- Some states have an oral test, too, while others only have a jurisprudence exam.[4]
- Many countries have their own licensing protocols that you might not
have learned about in graduate school. More information can be found on
web sites like The American Psychological Association for more on how to acquire a license.
-
Work on your own. Now
that you have all the credentials behind you, it's time to work on your
own! Congratulations. You can work unaided pretty much anywhere and for
anyone. Your only limit is where you're willing to commute!
- Many psychologists end up opening their own private practice, at
least once they've established a niche in their chosen community. This
means you'll become self-employed. If this is a dream of yours, start
the networking now!
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Join the American Psychological Association.
You can then attend national and regional conferences and have access
to all their online resources. That's way better than being a gold
member at Starbucks.
- The APA boasts over 15,000 early-career psychologists.[5] They're all networking and learning with and through each other. If you need your next job, you know who to ask!
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Be willing to relocate.
Once you have your degree, the best way to get the job you want is to be
willing to move to the area where the jobs are. Psychologists are
needed everywhere, but in today's economy, the best job may not be where
you are. Especially in your early years, it will be very beneficial if
you're willing to move.
- Make sure your license is good for the state you're moving to! Lord knows you don't want to take the EPPP again!
- The amount psychologists get paid varies greatly by area. If you
live in a small town full of blue collar workers you won't be able to
charge as much as you would if you lived in an upper-class suburb.
Though the living expense should also be taken into account, where you
set yourself up may be a large factor in your overall income.
-
Stay up-to-date. Once
you're a verified psychologist, you'll need to keep practicing and
attend the occasional seminar to satisfy the powers that be and keep
your license (in addition to reapplying every so often). Each state is
different, so make sure you familiarize yourself with the laws in yours.
- It's also important to stay on the cutting edge of the field. You
don't want to be telling everyone and their brother about hypotheses
that have been recently outdated. Keep reading, attending lectures, and
educating yourself!
source : www.wikihow.com
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